Handbag



M. ARNTHAL Dec. 23, 1952 HANDBAG Filed Feb. l5. 1949 Patented Dec. 23, 1952 HANDBAG Margit Arnthal, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to Twin Bags Inc., Tokyo, Japan, a corporation of Panama Application February 15, 1949, Serial No. 76,525 In Switzerland January 19, 1948 (Cl. 15G-28) Claims. l 1

The present invention relates to handbags, and particularly to a sealable handbag of adjustable capacity.

An object of the present invention is to provide a handbag of adjustable capacity having a closing structure which is adapted to tightly seal the opening of the bag in any of the several capacity conditions of the latter.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a handbag including a bag member open at the top and provided With a plurality of series of channel-forming members arranged at different levels, With the channels of each series being disposed at opposite sides of the bag member to slidably receive elongated sealing elements which have devices at their opposite ends for securing the elements together to seal the bag member therebetween.

A further object is to provide -a handbag of the described character wherein the elongated sealing elements at one end have cooperating structures constituting a separable hinge connection and at the other end have a latch arrangement for holding the related ends of the elements laterally together.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, which detailed description is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof and wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a scalable handbag of variable capacity constructed according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the carrying straps being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the closing structure of the bag of Fig. l, with the sealing elements shown hingedly connected at one end and separated at the other end, and broken away at their central portions;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the closing structure of Fig. 2 with the sealing elements shown secured together at the opposite ends and broken aw-ay at their central portions;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View, on an enlarged scale of the closing structure in the condition shown in Fig. 2, and with the sealing elements broken away in their central portions;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse, vertical sectional view of the bag rim with the closing structure sealing the opening thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a bag member of adjustable capacity shown with the top portion thereof folded downwardly and inwardly to reduce the volume thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a handbag construction according to one form of the present invention is there shown to include a bag member I open at the top and formed of any suitable material, such as, for example, leather, plastic sheeting, woven textile fabrics or needlework. The

bag member I is provided with a plurality of series of open ended channel forming strip elements on the outer surface thereof, with the channels of each series being disposed at the same level of the bag member and at opposite sides of the latter while the several series are located at different levels of the bag member. Thus, as seen in Fig. 6, the bag member is provided with a series of channel forming strip elements fla and 5a at the open end or edge thereof and with a second series of channel forming strip elements ll and 5 disposed at a location or level spaced from the open end or edge of the bag member.

When the bag member I is disposed in the condition of Fig. 6, that is, with the portion Ic between the series of channel forming strip elements d and 5 and the series 4a and 5a folded downwardly and inwardly, the capacity or volume of the bag member is substantially reduced, while unfolding of the portion Ic, so that the channel forming strip elements 4a and 5a are arranged at the top of the bag member (this condition not being shown), effects the conversion of the bag member to one of increased capacity.

The handbag embodying the present invention further includes sealing structure for sealing the opening of the bag member I in any one of the capacity conditions referred to above. This sealing structure, best seen in Figs. 2 to 4, includes two elongated sealing or rod elements 2 and 3 formed to be slidably received in the series of channel forming strip elements Il and 5 or 4a and 5a, depending upon which series is disposed at the bag opening. The sealing or rod elements 2 and 3 are of sufficient length to project from the open ends of the channels and are provided with cooperating structures at their opposite ends for separably securing together the elements 2 and 3 in parallel relationship.

The connection between the elements 2 and 3 at one end is preferably in the form of a separable hinge to permit pivoting or swinging of the elements after the connection has been effected, and in the illustrated embodiment includes an apertured projection or eye 'I extending from one end of the rod element 3 and a hooked projection 6 extending from the adjacent end of the element 2 and engageable `in the aperture of the projection or eye 'I.

At the other end, the sealing or rod elements are provided with a separably securing structure which preferably includes a hinged latch on the end of one of the elements and a keeper on the adjacent end of the other element adapted to receive the latch in one position of the latter and to prevent lateral separation of the related ends of the sealing elements. In the illustrated embodiment, the hinged latch consists of a substantially rectangular member 9 hinged at the side of one end to the end of element 2, as by the pin 8, and at the opposite side at the other end hingedly carrying a locking member I0, by a hinged connection I5, which locking member is formed with separated apertures II and I2. The keeper in the illustrated embodiment is in the form of a split, substantially cylindrical extension I3 on the element 3 providing a sucient space between the ends of its curving jaws, that is at the split, to receive the hinge structure connecting the members 9 and I0.

The element 3 is further formed with an eye I4 projecting therefrom at an angle adjacent the end having the extension I3 and is formed to extend through the aperture I2 of the locking member I when the latter is pivoted toward the outside face of the element 3. With the inclined eye I4 projecting through the locking member I0, a padlock (not shown) may be engaged in the eye I4 for the purpose of locking the sealing structure together. If desired, the inclined eye I4 may be formed so that it frictionally engages against the side of the aperture I2 with a wedging action when the member E3 rea-ches a position parallel. to the element 3 to thereby resist displacement ef the locking member to the release position of Figs. 2 and 4.

The elements 2 and 3 are preferably formed with reinforcing iillets or bead-s I'I and I3 on their confronting faces and arranged at different levels, as shown in Fig. 5. The beads I7 and IS serve the dual functions of strengthening the related sealing elements and of closing the space between the opposite edges Ia and ib of the bag opening so that an effective seal is provided at the opening. Since the end portions of the bags will cause folds at the opposite ends of the bag opening when the latter is sealed, so that the thicknesses of the folds of fabric will'be greater at the end portions of the opening than at the center thereof, the beads il' and is preferably terminate short of the ends of the elements 2 and 3 to act only on the central portions of the openings.

When it is desired to seal the handbag cnibodying the present invention in any one of the several capacity conditions, the elements 2 and 3 are slidably extended through the open ended channels then disposed at the edge of the bag opening. The hook S of element 2 is then engaged in the aperture of the eye 7 on element 3 and the elements are swung together to clamp the rim portion of the bag member therebetween. When the elements 2 and 3 are substantially parallel, the hinged latch member 9 is pivoted to engage its outer or free end, constituting the hinge structure I5, within the extension or keeper I3, and the locking member I8 is then pivoted fiat against the element 3 to secure the latch against disengagement from the keeper.

The sealing of the bag member may be effected in the above manner when arranged for any of the selected capacities merely by disposing the elements 2 and 3 in the series of channel forming strip elements provided at the proper level of the bag. While only two series of channel forming strip elements have been illustrated in Fig. 6, it is to be understood that other series of channel forming strip elements may be provided at different intermediate levels so that the capacity of the bag member may be adjusted in smaller increments` While I have disclosed an illustrative embodiment of my invention, and particularly of the sealing structure thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment and that various changes andmodications, apparent to a person skilled in the art, may be effected therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim' is:

1. A handbag comprising in combination a bag member having a plurality of series of channellike strip elements on the outer surface thereof and forming open ended channels, the channels of each series being at the same level and at opposite' sides of the bag member and the several series being spaced at different levels of the bag. and a sealing structure comprising a pair of rod elements removably insertable each in half the channels. of a selected series, a hook and eye connection between the rods at one end, and atthe other end a hinged member on one rod and a retaining member on the other rod, the. hinged member having means engaging the retaining member.

2. The combination of claim 1 further comprising an extension hinged to the free end of the hinged member and means on the other rod engaging the hinged extension.

3. The rcombination of claim 2 characterized by a loop on the other rod and an aperture in the extension for receiving the loop when in closed position.

4. A sealablev handbag of adjustable capacity comprising a bag member open at the top, a plurality of series of channel-likestrip elements attached to the outer surface of said bag member and forming open ended channels, the channels.

of each series being at the same level and arranged at opposite sides of the bag member while the several series are disposed at different levels of the bag member, and a sealing structure including two rod elements removably insertable in the channels of a selected series at opposite sides of said bag member, and means on the ends of said rod elements for separably connecting the latter to each other.

5. A sealable handbag of adjustable capacity as set forth in claim 4; wherein the last mentioned means includes cooperating means on one end of one of said rod elements and on the adjacent end of the other rod element constituting a separable hinge connection, and cooperating means on the `other ends of said rod elements operative, when engaged, to preventv lateral separation of said other ends.

MARGIT ARNTHAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

